>> reporter: and new technology could help. i got behind the wheel at the insurance institute for highway safety to see how collision avoidance systems work. this car automatically brakes when it comes too close to the car in front. >> ahh! wow! that is freaky. and it completely braked onity own. >> and prevented a crash. >> sensors and cameras installed in the vehicle can detect more than just cars. at a faster speed, watch what happens. >> and pedestrian walk out in front of you. >> oh, my gosh! ah! i hit him. >> you hit him. >> oh, no. >> but not too hard. he probably just fell over. at a higher speed we wouldn't avoid the crash. there would be a crash but because of the braker the crash would be at a lower speed than it would be without the system. >> reporter: national transportation safety board added collision avoidance technology to its list of safety improvements, wanting states to mandate these systems in all cars. >> hundreds of lives can be saved and hundreds of thousands of injuries can be prevented if the technolo